Leaving a fore & aft mooring

lockwood

lockwood

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Cardiff
www.craiglockwood.co.uk
My 22 footer has recently been moved from its Marina berth to a fore & aft mooring at the local yacht club.

The Fore & Aft mooring buoys are linked via a bridle.

When the wind is on the beam, its easy to cast off and motor away - but when the wind is directly from behind, I have major problems casting off as the boat moored in front (and the one behind) is very close, and the wind pushes my boat forward before I can get any steerage.

Anybody else have this problem? if so, how is it overcome?
 
Make sure if the wind is not directly from astern that you wont blow over your own bridle.Make the bridle easy to transfer from one side to the other if needed before leaving the berth.

If the wind is coming from astern let go the forward mooring first as it isnt doing much then engage reverse gear and go gently astern until the weight comes off the stern mooring.

Let go the stern mooring and put the rudder over to move your stern away from the mooring.Keep going astern until you have plenty of room .

If the breeze is not exactly astern go off so the wind pushes you away from the mooring.

If no wind or directly from astern remember that your engine going astern will push your stern to Port as it grips the water.You can use this effect(known as prop walk) to your advantage both leaving and returning to your berth.

Never try to leave going ahead with the wind pushing you forward,especially if the owner of the boat ahead is watching ,finally use lots of fenders /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I also have a fore & aft but on a river.
In the situation you describe or when the wind is blowing me onto the bank I use a spring.
Put a loop in the bridle just aft of the bow, attach a short springing line to it either permanently or loop one through so that it is doubled up and can be retrieved as you leave.
Attach spring to bow, release bow mooring, release stern mooring then gently motor forward against spring until stern is out far enough to reverse into wind. Don't forget to release the spring /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Are we limited to 2 word answers or dont you think Conch Pearl is capable of understanding anything more complex?

Having sailed with him I think he is.
 
The use of a rope doubled through either forward or aft strop and fast to OPPOSITE end of boat depending on wind direction / tide etc. gives the possibility to hold and swing out one end or other as necessary .... once end is swung out sufficient ... let go one end and pull on board the rope .....

ie. You have tide / wind pushing you forward ... so you can't motor forward or do much - as you hit guy ahead before steerage ...

So Rig a doubled line from aft mooring strop to bow .... drop of both aft and bow mooring lines, so that now you are fast only by the backspring bow to aft strop. Now you can use the wind / tide etc. to swing the stern out and then put engine astern letting go backspring as you slide out ....
 
bridle vs spring line ...

What I like about a spring line to the aft mooring attachment is the variability of it ... whereas the fore-aft trot line is often a fixed line with little scope in it ...

Having an doubled spring line gives you that flexibility in use ...

Anyway - I'm sure that Conchpearl and I will have lengthy discussions on way to Cherbourg about thsi and many other salty things !!!!

There is also another method that has ben overlooked which initially seems a drastic answer .... but can in fact be a reliable method of overcoming shortcomings in boat manouevrability ... that of turning the boat around in its mooring !! to get the pointy end stemming the tide / wind whichever is strongest ... easily done with two lines crossed ... many boats do this for leaving medi-moor when no engine ...

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Thank you Graham.... I shall try next time the wind is from my backside (ahem..)

I think I must have been spoilt in the Marina, I had never really given fore & aft mooring much thought until the first time I came to use it..... in the dark, and in a heavy breeze!
 
niether, i expect he is very cappable of understanding thats y i would not have thought u needed to explain in great detail how to handle a few lines,perhaps i was giving a little too much credit
 
Some of us have tried to offer some advise (which was asked for)

too much detail perhaps but offered in the spirit of trying to be helpfull.

You on the other hand have brought nothing constructive to the discussion.
 
I too have a for and aft mooring, the bridle you mention we call a tizzy line.
You must have a floater some where midway between your strops. Have a word with your local fishermen , or visit your local boat jumble for leaded line used on nets to wheight down the lower portion of the net. It makes a great tizzy line that sinks like a brick, put your floater on about a 1 metre line tied to your bridle which will easilly clear your keel as you move off. Regarding leaving the mooring , if you let go down wind first and the other end second you may be able to walk the bridlealong your decks and get a good angle to leave your mooring. works well for me,
piere
 
I'd love a marina berth , fixed pontoon and all that. but money does not allow.
we frequently get visitors in our harbour and you would be surprised just how many have no idea what to do with a for and aft mooring. I have seen boats left hanging from a tizzy(bridle) from a mid ship cleat. furthermore when help has been offered the occasional skipper has retorted with a scathing comment . Thanfully these are rare and most owners are only too glad for a little local knowledge.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gifonly 4 weeks to lift out , doom and gloom
 
Mickyd .....

Confused now .....

Sorry if I tell you something you already know !! When replying - its usual to reply to the post that prompts your reply ... 'cause with your latest you have replied to the original postee - Conchpearl, but I think you meant it for Lady in Bed ??
 
There may be talkers and doers but this is a forum . We talk about it , then we have a greater understanding when we do it. I for one have learnt alot from this post as i have the same problem on my mooring , thanks to this post i now will try another way of casting off .
Giving greater detail helps the other forum members aswell .
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I don't know quite what this tizzy line is as such, we always leave our dinghy for and aft on the mooring when we leave, if not then a floating line with pick up buoy.

Leaving and needing to swing 180° we will move the aft strops to one side just hooked over the cleat. Motor forward gently and steer away from the moorings, opposite to the side the strops are on. Drop the fore lines. She will come around in her own time. As you approach say, 120° let go the aft strop and off you go.

If the trots are laid in lines, the people on the boats alongside my get a little twitchy as they see you coming around as they may not realise you are still tethered.

This might be what others have mentioned, apologies if that is the case, I just did not pick it out of the suggestions made thus far.

Nigels method of turning the boat is feasible in nice weather, walking the strops from fore to aft and visa versa with each crew on different sides of the boat. But any wind or current this can get a bit scary when the strops are trying to pull you over the side! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Woofy ....

<<Nigels method of turning the boat is feasible in nice weather, walking the strops from fore to aft and visa versa with each crew on different sides of the boat. But any wind or current this can get a bit scary when the strops are trying to pull you over the side!

This was just mentioned to show what is possible .... my other method of having a doubled line instead of the strop is do-able in any weather and gives more control than an endless strop short and fixed.

Onto the mention of doers and talkers (not directed at woofy ...) ........ I may have played about in boats since a very small child and sailed with various very talented people ... but I still learn from many posts - often on subjects I thought I knew pretty well .... if anyone thinks they have nothing to learn - then we are already praying and singing hymns to you on sundays ....


/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: nigel the nobber

your right nigel every days a school day... but u come across as a right know it all...try not to take things so seriously ye nobber
 
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